Makeup for non-makeup girls

While I’ve gone through phases of wearing makeup, I’ve never really been convinced that the trade-off between covering up imperfections in my complexion vs. creating more by clogging my pores was worth it. My application techniques (and patience for the same) also leave something to be desired, and so the phases never lasted all that long.

When Jill & Tom got married, I turned to Abby to help me make sure I didn’t look like a jerk at their wedding. (Abby has since filled the role of personal stylist, something only slightly complicated by the 409 miles between us.) I wound up with some Clinque tinted moisturizer (I think it’s this one), Maybelline mascara and Pixi concealer (Undercover – listed under base) and eyeshadow (Triple Eye Colour in Tamora).

The concealer is amazing, and I still use it on a near-daily basis. It makes me look awake when I am dragging, and covers up the circles that are still there when I’m well-rested. I like the eyeshadow, too. I used the Clinique moisturizer for a while, but I never did get into the habit of using it daily — it still felt like a layer on my skin, unless I skipped my usual moisturizer (a difficult feat for someone so dependent on her routine in the morning). I also noticed that if I wore it for a few days in a row, I’d start to break out a little bit. Boo. So, by the end of last summer I was pretty much only using it for special occasions (by which I mean, interviews).

Late in the fall, Abby, being the good stylist that she is, raved to me about Bare Escentuals. Shortly after that, I played with it at her house, and then we went shopping for my very own “Getting Started” kit. You can read all about it on their site, but basically it is a series of three powders that you apply in a certain order. It is idiot-proof and my skin has not rebelled at all after 9 weeks of wearing it 5-6 times a week. I don’t feel like I need to wash it off as soon as I get home. I love it. Since I picked this up at Sephora, I was also seduced by the eyeshadow (just like with yarn, it’s the colors that get me) and I splurged on an eye color called Soiree – it’s a gorgeous, multi-tonal deep green with flecks of gold. A little much for day wear, but I now go straight to it if I am going out.

So, my morning makeup routine takes all of 5 minutes, which is all the time I care to devote to it. And as a bonus, I can’t mess it up too badly. Carmindy (of What Not to Wear) would be proud.

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2 thoughts on “Makeup for non-makeup girls”

I am SO glad you love BE. I’m a total convert and have since purchased a bunch more products from them. So easy and my hyper-sensitive skin doesn’t freak out. It makes for an easy sell with a product that great.